Definition & Meaning of "put the cat among the pigeons"

What is the origin of the idiom "put the cat among the pigeons" and when to use it?

The idiom "put the cat among the pigeons" originated in the 1800s, when pigeon racing was a popular pastime. Pigeon racers would often keep their pigeons in dovecotes, which were large enclosures with many nesting boxes. If a cat was put in a dovecote, it would cause chaos among the pigeons, as they would scramble to escape. This expression is now used to describe any action that causes trouble or disruption in a group of people. It is often used in a negative sense, but it can also be used in a more positive sense, to describe an action that is necessary to break the status quo and bring about change.